ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Hurricane Florence continues to strengthen.

  • Hurricane Florence continues to strengthen
  • Florence to impact east coast of U.S. by end of week
  • Helene, Isaac upgraded to hurricanes

Right now winds are 85 mph. High pressure that has been blocking its movement is sliding south. Florence will pick up speed Monday. 

Deep warm water will be along the path so Florence will likely be a major hurricane starting Monday.  It is very likely that Florence will have a direct impact by Thursday. Models look to be in more agreement about that this evening.

The steering flow may collapse on Thursday which means Florence will slow-down as it either approaches the coast, is along the coast, or just after landfall. So there will likely be impacts through next weekend.  Coastal flooding (or storm surge) and flooding from rainfall will be the hazards that linger.  The slower a tropical system is, the more rainfall there will be.

At this point, it looks like Florence should stay well away from our area. 

HURRICANE ISAAC

Hurricane Isaac is a very small storm, so it is more prone to intensity fluctuations. It will continue moving west toward the Caribbean. Shear will increase when it gets into the Caribbean.  But that may not happen until it passes the Lesser Antilles.

HURRICANE HELENE

Helene is a hurricane and has been strengthening. The shear is low and the water is warm.  It will stay over open waters, expected to turn northwest. Shear may affect it again in a couple days.

Hurricane season runs through November 30.

The model runs seemed to be getting together in closer agreement that the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic Coast will have a direct impact by Thursday. Steering flow may collapse by then which means Florence will slow-down as it approaches the coast, is along the coast, or just after landfall. So there will likely be impacts through next weekend.
The model runs seemed to be getting together in closer agreement that the Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic Coast will have a direct impact by Thursday. Steering flow may collapse by then which means Florence will slow-down as it approaches the coast, is along the coast, or just after landfall. So there will likely be impacts through next weekend.